ClassNK has issued approval in principle (AiP) for a methane oxidation catalyst system* to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The certification demonstrates its feasibility from a regulatory and safety perspective.
As decarbonization efforts accelerate, the development of alternative fuel vessels is progressing. However, in operating LNG-powered engines, methane slippage—unburned methane gas emitted into the atmosphere—remains a challenge. Methane has a particularly high greenhouse potential among greenhouse gases, and therefore, catalyst systems capable of reducing methane slippage through oxidation have attracted increasing interest. This system was installed as a demonstration unit on the LNG bunkering vessel KEYS Azalea, built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and underwent demonstration testing.
ClassNK has revised the system design concept based on Chapter 21 of Part D of the “Rules and Guidelines for Surveying and Construction of Steel Ships”. Upon ensuring compliance with the stipulated requirements, ClassNK issued an AiP. AiP demonstrates that the design is feasible for the intended application and contributes to preventing regulatory rework at later stages as well as reducing the time required for classification approval.
ClassNK will continually strive to contribute to advanced decarbonization initiatives through safety assessments and more.
Source: Class NK
